'78 Westerly D25.......want to pull the trigger on this!!!

[c70man]

I have a shot at buying this and wanted your opinions.

Here's a few pics of the fingerboard.....the rest of the guitar is absolutely mint condition.

A Westerly '78 D25 .......I would have to buy it based on pics. Is the fret wear and fretboard wear an issue?

 

[taabru45]

Looks all right, a little wear, good thing is its been played. How is the action? Frets look all right, might be a sweetheart, there is also a D35 in SF craigslist for $425. Some good deals around. Steffan

 

[c70man]

Looks all right, a little wear, good thing is its been played. How is the action? Frets look all right, might be a sweetheart, there is also a D35 in SF craigslist for $425. Some good deals around. Steffan

I'm told the action is fine. In fact the rest of the guitar is mint....I was just concerned about the fretboard wear.....I am assuming I'd have the frets replaced or dressed.

 

[Willy]

This appears to be an easy fix. The F112 I posted about for my friend Greg a couple of days ago was as bad or worse - 30+ years of regular use with no apparent maintenance along the way. He went ahead and bought it and it took me about 45 minutes to dress the frets and carefully level the fretboard with a scraper. I posted pictures of the end result and now wish I had done a before and after of the frets.

My advice is not to let the condition of the frets stop you from buying it - it's a lot easier to fix that than to find a good guitar! But take it to a reputable luthier if you don't have the specific skills to do the work yourself. Look at the work they've done for others and don't let them touch it if you're not comfortable with what you see.

 

[Willy]

8) Hey...it's your one-year anniversary of joining this group - congrats! :!: 8)

Hope you get the guitar, I've always liked D25s and would like to have one some day.

 

[c70man]

8) Hey...it's your one-year anniversary of joining this group - congrats! :!: 8)

Hope you get the guitar, I've always liked D25s and would like to have one some day.

WOW!!! I hadn't noticed......how cool is that!

I want to thank everyone on this site....they have been great to communicate with and learn from.

Does anyone think the nut shows too much wear......its awfully low. The saddle doesn't have a whole lot left either......I think I need to ask about a neck reset on this guitar.

 

[killdeer43]

Does anyone think the nut shows too much wear......its awfully low. The saddle doesn't have a whole lot left either......I think I need to ask about a neck reset on this guitar.

I say pull the trigger. I took the time and $$ to replace the nut and the saddle and reglue the bridge on my D-25 and the sound that comes from that guitar makes me smile. I know that it was worth all that I put into it. These particular guitars are only increasing in value and appreciation. I certainly appreciate mine....every day!

Go for it,
Joe

 

[brian f]

definitely check the action at the 12th and the saddle height. Any separation at the heel/body joint?
As stated, fretboard show the guitar has been played a lot, so it must sound sweet. Frets might need a little attention. The divots don't look deep enough to be an issue, but if you didn't like it over time, you could have them level the board when they do a refret. I think it looks very cool as is.

 

[brian f]

what is the nut material? is it just really heavily dyed bone? I've never seen one so dark. looks cool.

 

[Phlytyer]

GO...FOR...IT!....

Many a musician will tell you that there is a special patina/sound (for lack of a better term) that an acoustic instrument acquires as it is played over the years. Something that no picture can capture. What does it sound like? Is the neck still relatively straight? If it sounds good, all else is just a cosmetic facelift (and I have seen the comments about that else where on this forum :wink: ).

 

[taabru45]

We are a funny bunch around here, getting all excited when someone adopts a Guild. Like....does it have blue eyes, how much does it weigh, all the fingers and toes there... What color is its hair, like we're all in the waiting room together....kinda cool...really :!: :lol: :lol: Steffan

 

[GardMan]

I don't think the fretboard divits look that bad... worst are under 2nd & 3rd string at the 1st fret. My D-25 has some divits like that... don't notice 'em at all when playing. Some just look like a little "polishing" of the board by fingertips.

As suggested by BrianF, I'd probably ask what the action is at the 12th fret... high action and low saddle could be signs of a problem. OTOH, it doesn't always indicate a reset is needed right away... maybe just a tweak of the truss.

I would probably change out the nut... some of the slots (3-5) look too wide to me. Might cause a buzz, or lose some tone if the strings can move in the slots. It also looks awfully low (even for me... and I have mine LOOOW), but it's hard to tell from the angle of the pics. I usually figure the cost of a new bone nut, saddle, and setup into anything I am buying... about $100 here in SLC.

What is the seller asking for it? On eBay, a D-25 in VG condition would run anywhere from $500-700.

Dave
PS: When you buy it, turn the truss cover around... it's upside down!

 

[brian f]

good eyes on those nut slots Dave!

 

[dreadnut]

The fretboard wear looks similar to my '76 that I've had since new. I had the first five frets re-fretted about 8 years ago, but the depressions in the fretboard don't seem to affect anything negatively. In fact, I tell people those grooves are located right where all the John Prine songs are

Good luck, it might be a good player! And ditto to Willy's advice!

 

[c70man]

The fretboard wear looks similar to my '76 that I've had since new. I had the first five frets re-fretted about 8 years ago, but the depressions in the fretboard don't seem to affect anything negatively. In fact, I tell people those grooves are located right where all the John Prine songs are

Good luck, it might be a good player! And ditto to Willy's advice!

Well, I'm going to "see" the guitar on Friday....so I will prob pull the trigger. I did just find out what the serial number was and its a '88, not a '78, which explains why the body is like mint condition. The nut and saddle have that aged look to them, like they are stained. I will have to inspect it on Friday......wish me luck.

 

[brian f]

Good luck c70man. hope you end up happy.

 

[hansmoust]

Well, I'm going to "see" the guitar on Friday....so I will prob pull the trigger. I did just find out what the serial number was and its a '88, not a '78, which explains why the body is like mint condition. The nut and saddle have that aged look to them, like they are stained. I will have to inspect it on Friday......wish me luck.

Hello c70man,

That's what I suspected after seeing the photos. It's a Micarta nut, which was not standard in '78.
That 'stained' look is what Micarta will turn into over time. Same thing with the saddle.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[dreadnut]

My '98 DV-52 came with a micarta nut and saddle, I've since had them changed to bone. What was standard equipment on the '70's D-25? (My '76 still has the original nut and saddle).

 

[kitniyatran]

Best wishes on the looksee.
Gotta love a D25!

 

[dynamohm]

That guitar looks exactly like my D-25 (That's because it is) I don't know where the 1978 came from I have always stated that it's a 1987 (It's stamped on the back of the headstock) Whom ever is meeting me tommorrow is going to get a great guitar without any issues. I always wondered about the saddle and nut being so aged looking, that's how it was 10 years ago when I bought it. I checked the neck last night by putting a straight edge on the frets and it just clears the bridge and goes exactly to the bottom of the saddle. The action is perfect and if anything the saddle looks a little on the tall side to me. The fretwear is hardly noticable to the naked eye, I think the flash makes it look worse then it really is. The only reason I am selling it, is to get a fingerstyle with a bigger neck. I love Guilds and hate to sell it. I also own a 1974 F-112 that is awesome. My main dread is a 70's martin D-35 that has great sentintal value that I will never get rid of. To be honest sometimes I think the D25 sounds better I just prefer the big ole chunky neck of the Martin. If anybody out there has a F-30 or a OM body size with a 1 3/4 nut width for sale let me know.